Chief Executive Officer / Director

Salary: circa £60,000 per annum, competitive, based on background and skills

Location: London, UK

Contract: Permanent, Full Time

Applications close: Friday 16th May 2025

About us

Chelsea Theatre is a vibrant community and cultural venue, in the heart of Chelsea and the World’s End Estate, committed to providing community engagement opportunities, educational and cultural activities and events for residents and visitors alike.

With a £2m refurbishment completed just before Covid, Chelsea Theatre earns the majority of its income from venue hire fees, supplemented by grants from The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. As we embark on an exciting new chapter, we seek a commercially minded and dynamic Chief Executive Officer (CEO) / Director to lead the organisation, drive financial sustainability and strengthen our role as a community and cultural hub. This is a unique opportunity for a commercially focused leader with strong business acumen and venue management experience to shape the theatre’s future, ensuring its continued success and growth.

About the role

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) / Director will be responsible for the overall strategic, financial, and operational leadership of Chelsea Theatre. This is a hands-on role with a focus on balancing the day-to-day running of the operational activities of the venue, with essential components such as stakeholder management, community engagement and income generation.

Key Responsibilities

The postholder will:

• Provide leadership and responsibility for the charity’s purpose, administration and financial management plus ensure compliance with the law and regulations.

• Generate significant earned income from one-off and repeat hirers, including local community organisations, commercial contracts, arts organisations and private hires, with a focus on high quality customer care.

• Increase income from grants, corporates and funds from individuals, with support from Trustees.

• Run the building as a community centre, making an ever-increasing positive impact in the local community and beyond.

• Motivate and engage a small team of staff and volunteers, and broad range of stakeholders and prospective supporters.

• Where necessary, with the team, be capable of delivering a range of operational tasks, such as updating the website and managing the box office systems.

• Act as ambassador for the charity, building relationships with partners and stakeholders in the community, local government and with businesses.

Strategic & Commercial Leadership

• Work with the Board to develop and implement a clear vision and business strategy to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the Chelsea Theatre.

• Identify and maximise commercial opportunities, including venue hire, sponsorship, and partnerships. Support the Board with fundraising.

• Lead on business development and marketing initiatives to increase revenue while maintaining the venue’s community-focused ethos.

• Ensure the organisation’s mixed team of staff and volunteers are focused on supporting the business’s mission and objectives.

Venue & Operational Management

• Oversee all aspects of venue operations, ensuring the highest standards of efficiency, customer experience, and compliance with health and safety regulations.

• Develop and manage budgets effectively, ensuring quality financial reporting, financial stability, and responsible stewardship of resources.

• Ability to optimise rental income and diversify income streams, while serving community needs.

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including funders, local authorities, businesses, and community groups.

• Operate within the annual budget. Monitor key indicators of the organisation’s impact and financial health.

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and nurture partnerships with the local community, ensuring the theatre remains a welcoming and accessible space for all.

• Work closely with the Board of Trustees to align organisational commercial goals with community needs and expectations.

• Further develop a balanced and funded community programme, which currently include a flagship youth theatre scheme, to reflect community needs and interests.

• Represent Chelsea Theatre externally, acting as an advocate for its work and impact.

Download and view the full details of the job in the CEO Job Pack here or below.

How to apply

• Please send your resume, together with a supporting statement (less than 500 words), outlining your suitability for the role to chelseatheatrerecruit@gmail.com – clearly marked ‘Application – Chelsea Theatre CEO’.
• Chelsea Theatre is committed to diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. The charity particularly welcomes applications from people with disabilities, LGBT+, and People of the Global Majority backgrounds, in keeping with charity’s Strategic Plan and Workforce Diversity policies.
• Please also complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form here and send to chelseatheatrerecruit@gmail.com separately from the application, clearly marked ‘EOMF – Chelsea Theatre CEO’.
• The Council of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is the charity’s main grant funder and are assisting with this recruitment process. Candidates should be aware that their application details may be shared with representatives of the Council, as well as Chelsea Theatre Trustees – with appropriate data privacy protection.
• Deadline for applications is 16 May 2025; interviews will take place in May / June, with the goal to having the candidate in post by mid July 2025.